Attack with 2 F and 1 D. The D join the rush inside the top of the circles and decide to either continue being part of the attack or to pull back. Pass while skating. Defender delay the attack from the middle and rush the high man if a late trailer pass is made.

Description:

1. D1 step out exchange passes with F1 who is on the same side of the ice.2. F2 cut across the neutral zone from the diagonal blue line and cross with F1.3. D1 pass to F1 or F2 and follow the attack vs. D2.4. Continue until the puck is out of play.5. On the whistle F3-F4-D3 attack the other way vs. D4.

Skate to the ‘Big Ice’ inside the dots when you carry the puck. Skate to the inside and pass to the outside and chip the puck over the blue line off the boards to exit and enter the defensive then offensive zones.

Description:

1. Two players leave at a time from diagonal corners.2. Player one skate between the dots and player two cross and ‘take the ice behind.’3. Player two skate to the big ice and chip the puck in for player one who crosses behind.4. Finish with a one timer shot.

Keep the hands away from the body, roll the wrists, have loose shoulders, handle the puck all around the body with big moves.

Description:

1. Skate forward weaving around the ice with a puck and go fast on the whistle.2. Skate backward weaving around the ice with a puck and go fast on the whistle.3. Handle two pucks at the same time with work/rest intervals.4. Individual skills:a. Puckhandle around two and four pucks.b. Defense take shots from the point.c. Defenseman make an escape move vs. a forechecker.

Make firm passes, give the stick for a target, attack with speed, make the first pass near the blue line to make a second play possible. Defender delay play and keep the puck to one side so the goalie defends one half of the net.

Description:

1. Start with D in one corner and F1 at point F2 in other corner and D2 at the blue line.2. F1 make a diagonal pass down to F2 and skate across to the far lane.3. F2 skate across ice and pass back to D1.4. D1 pass up to F1 and follow the play.5. F1-F2 attack vs. D2.6. Repeat the other way, F3-F4 regroup with D3 at attack 2-1 vs. D1.* Options:A. Add a regroup. B. D1 join the rush to make it a 3-1. C. Add players to make it a 2-2, 3-2, 2-3.[/color]

Be ready for a new puck after a goal, frozen puck or wide shot. Be ready for a new puck after a goal,

Description:

1. Start with a 2-2 or 3-3.2. Extra players are on the bench.3. Coach pass new puck to his defending team when the puck is out of play.4. 20-30 second shifts.5. Keep score and the losing team skate or some other punishment.

* Important to face the play with and without the puck in the 'Triple Threat' position.

* Create space by making fakes and escape moves.

* Play situations from 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, 2-3, 3-3 and add passing to the Jokers.

Attack with speed, face the puck, make the first play early, follow the shot for a rebound. Defender delay the play and deny the pass across the mid-line, take the stick of the man driving the net after the shot. One attacker screen and the other position for a deflection on a shot pass.

Description:

1. Players are at the four blue lines along the boards.2. F1-F2 start by passing to D2 at the far blue line.3. D2 pass across the neutral zone to D1.4. D1 pass to either F1 or F2 and follow the attack.5. F1-F2 attack vs. D2 and finish the play then go to the front of the net.6. D1 get a new puck and take a shot from the point while F1-F2 battle with D2.

Always face the puck and give a target. Make quick wrist or one touch passes. Keep the top hand away from the body. Follow the shot. Rebound, one touch or defend the next shooter.

Description:

1. A leave and exchange passes with B on the other side.2. B skate and give a return pass to A who skates back into the neutral zone.3. A skate in and shoot and follow the shot for a rebound.4. A either: a- Rebound for the next shooter. b- Give and go with the next shooter. c- Defend 1-1 vs. the next shooter.5. B repeat exchanging passes across the ice with C.

Defense skate to the ‘Big Ice’ between the dots before passing. Forwards time skating to be available when the passer turns up ice. Give a target, go through the neutral zone quickly, hit the net, follow the shot, one screen and one be available for a shot pass.

Description:

1. Forwards leave from the middle and along the boards in the neutral zone, D from the blue line.2. D1 go back for a puck at the top of the circle.3. F1 support from the middle and F2 along the boards.4. D1 pass to F1 or F2 and follow the play.5. F1-F2 attack-shoot-rebound then screen tip.6. D1 pick up a puck inside the blue line, skate to the 'Big Ice' and shoot.7. Come out hard on the whistle.8. D2-F3-F4 repeat.

Pass and skate for a return pass. Keep skating while passing, receiving and shooting. Give a target. Handle the puck after receiving and use wrist passes.

Description:

A. 1 and 2 leave from each end and pass across to 3 and 4.B. 3 and 4 pass across to 5 and 6.C. 5 and 6 pass up to 1 and 2 skating across the neutral zone.D. 1 shoot-rebound-screen.E. 2 shoot. F. 3 and 4 repeat in the other direction.

Centre swing low and slow. Wing skate with the puck to the ‘big ice’ between the dots then pass for a wide entry.

Description:

1. F1-F2-D1-D2 go back for the puck from the middle circle at both ends.2. D1 pass to D2 to F1 to F2 and follow the rush.3. F2 skate between the dots and pass wide to F1 and attack net.4. F1 get a puck from the coach and pass back to F2 who skates up the wall and pass to D1.5. D1 pass to D2 who passes to F1 who cycled high and through the middle, F2 screen.* Option: Add another cycle on the other side.

Loosen the shoulders and use big moves. Keep the hands away from the body. Make hard fakes. Puck handle quietly. Use this flow to practice many more moves and fakes.

Key Points:

1. Zig-zag down the ice and keep the puck only on the forehand of the blade. Add doing this with the puck only on the backhand.2. Fake a shot by dropping the shoulder as if you were shooting, do this on the forehand and backhand.3. Fake a backhand pass and pull the puck across.4. Handle two pucks with one on the backhand and the other on the forehand.5. Handle three pucks at once.

This was a skills camp with both boy's and girl's run spring 2016. The girl's were all 98 born and played for my U18 AAA team that won the Provincial Silver a few months before. They are all playing in the CIS this season. It was a coach development week and they used these players to practice running an effective 'hockey practice'. I will post some more of the drills they used.

Breakout from both sides and practice all the options including D to D passes. Goalies work with the coach at the other end. Centre swing ‘low and slow’ to get touch backs from the wing vs. a pinch.

[b]Description: [/b]

1. Coach dumps the puck in. 2. D go back and get the puck, move between the dots and pass or go D to D. 3. Players break out. 4. Pass the puck to the coach. 5. Coach dumps the puck in the other corner for a second breakout. 6. Do all of the options, go, counter, wheel, reverse, reverse to wing, over.

Make plays. Goalie work to see the puck all the time. Read the situation. Keep score.

Description:

1. Nets are back to back with extra players along the blue line to keep the puck in.2. Coach calls out how many players from each team from 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, 2-3, 3-3, 3-4, 4-4.3. Play 20-30" shifts with shorter shifts with small numbers.4. New players can't go in until the original group is over the blue line.5. Pass the puck to your players coming on at the whistle.6. Coach put in a puck to start, after a goal or it is out of play.

Skate to defensive side and look where the net is, then out toward the shooter. Drop to one knee, turn the face sideways with the free hand protecting the face pad side out. Turn the inside elbow pad to face the shooter. This technique keeps the skate on the ice and allows the player to quickly skate.Cut a tennis ball into 16 equal strips and insert through the holes in a baseball sized waffle ball. This makes it about the same weight as a puck and it slides well on the ice and doesn’t injure the players.

Description:

1. Coaches have wiffle balls stuffed with a tennis ball.2. Player skate to the inside and look to line up between the shot and the net.3. Player skate toward the shooter.4. Player drop to one knee sideways when shooter takes his stick back.5. Coach shoot and player block the shot.

*Players have make sure they don’t slide out of the shooting lane on a fake shot and retain the ability to be lined up between the puck and the net.

Play form 1-1 to 3-3.This is a good quick transition game to work on speed attacking and back tracking and communicating to cover the right man.

Description:

1. B1-2 attack vs. R1-2.2. R3-4 support from just over the mid-line.3. On transition, goal or frozen puck R1-2 pass to R3-4.4. B1-2 backcheck to defend their net.5. B3-4 support from just over the mid-line.6. Continue this flow and play both even and odd situations 1-1 to 3-3.

Defender take away the tip in at the far post and control the dangerous stick on the rebound. Goalie fight to see the puck through the screen. F1-F2-D2 attack 3-1 with a middle lane drive. If they attack with a offensive triangle then defender stay in the middle and pressure a trailer pass.

Description:

1. F1-F2 attack 2-1 vs. D1 from the corners.2. When the puck is out of play D2 shoot while D1 battles F1-F2 in front.3. Coach spot a puck inside far zone and D2 regroup with F1-F2.4. F1-F2-D2 attack 3-1 vs. D1.5. Repeat at the other end with F3-F4-D3-D4.

This drill is done from diagonal corners. Keep skating and make firm passes. Give a target and call for the pass. Face the puck. Shoot, follow the shot for a rebound and then go out to play a tight gap and defend 1-1 vs. the next shooter.

Description:

A. 1 exchange passes with 2.B. 1 turn out and exchange passes with 3.C. 1 skate across and exchange passes with 4.D. 4 skate to the inside and pass to 1 skating wide up the ice.E. 1 shoot and follow the shot for a rebound and then skate out to play a tight gap.F. Defend a 1-1 vs. the next shooter.

*1-0, 2-0, etc. drills are not game like. Add a screen, give and go with the last shooter or defend after shooting to practice scoring in realistic situations.

This is a great timing drill with good flow for early in the practice. Pass hard and get yourtop hand away from your body. Call for the pass. Give your stick and skates as a target. Pass and shoot while skating. Follow your shot for a rebound.

Description:

1. Skate to the top of the circle and pass.2. Continue and get a pass from the other end and skate outside the dots in the neutral zone so the goalies have time to set for the next shooter.3. Progress to 2-0 first player passes and swings wide and pass to the second player who quickly moves passes wide to player one.4. On the 3-0 the third player goes up the boards and joins the middle drive attack in the wide lane.5. Screen or rebound for the next shooter.

Defenseman keep skating when they get the puck. One forward support in the middle lane and the other in the wide lane without crossing.

Description:

1. Player leave from the four blue lines and start with one D at each blue line.2. F1 pass across to F2 who regroups with D1.3. D1 pass to either F1-F2.4. F1-F2 make a pass and then regroup with D2.5. D2 pass to either F1-F2.6. F1-F2 attack 2-1 vs. D1 and finish the play.7. Repeat with F3-F4 regrouping then attack the other way vs. D2.

Defense communicate and deny passes across the midline. Forwards create 2-1’s and attack the net quickly using give and goes.

Description:

1. Three reds vs. two blue on one half and three blue vs. three reds on the other.2. Start with the coach shooting in a puck at one end.3. Red attack 3-2 and Blue defend and pass to Blue forwards on transition.4. Shoot in a new puck after a goal or the goalie freezes it.5. Play 45” 60” and rotate in new players.* Use this game to play even and uneven situations up to 3-3 including random situations where the players must read and communicate how many attackers.

The 2-0 attacks both nets and the 3-0 attack one end at a time. Follow the shot for a rebound and play until a goal or the puck is frozen by the goalie. Go hard to the net and pass and shoot while skating. Stop at the net and look for rebounds.

Description:

1. Start with a 2-0 x 2 and leave from diagonal blue lines.2. Player A pass across to player C.3. Player C pass to player B.4. Attack 2-0 at each end and go after the rebound and score.5. Stay to screen for the next attack with C-D.6. Attack 3-0 in one direction.7. A-B-C leave and A pass across to D.8. D pass to B in the middle.9. A-B-C attack 3-0 with a middle lane drive.10. Follow the rebound and finish the attack.

Players make one touch passes and take one touch shots. Adjust the body into a solid athletic position to make the plays. Stick on the ice and be square to the puck.

Description:

1. Nets across from each other at each end of a circle.2. An offensive player on both sides of each net and a player in the middle on the defensive side.3. Extra players stand at the sides.4. Coach put in a new puck when needed. 5. Players make one touch passes and take one timer shots.6. Play 30-40” then rotate new players in.7. Keep score and play to a score or for a defined time.

Defense shoulder check before you get the puck and forwards give support on the boards and middle on the strong side. D read the pressure and skate away from it. If possible pass to the centre first, then look to the strong side wing, if those aren’t open go D to D behind or with a reverse or counter. The forecheckers try to score 2 on 4.

Description:

1. Red D and White F start from opposite blue lines.2. Start D1-D2 pass to F1-F2.3. F1-F2 dump the puck in and D3-D4 go back for the puck.4. F1-F2 forecheck vs. D3-D4.5. F3-F4 support D3-D4.6. D3-D4 make a breakout pass to F3-F4.7. F3-F4 now cross the red line and dump the puck in vs. D5-D6 and forecheck.8. F5-F6 follow the play for a breakout pass from D5-D6.

* This breakout sequence can be done with 1, 2 or 3 F and 1 or 2 D.

* Principle is the quicker you get the puck up ice the less time the other team has to get well organized.

I notice in all your regroups when the d hinges he moves up rather then behind the D with the puck. We have always been taught to hinge one stick below the other d with the puck to avoid the pass being intercepted. Curious as to the reason you teach the d hinging up?

----------------------Thanks for the question. If the D skates up ice his partner goes to the middle below him and if he skates back to the middle the partner skates wide and up. The key point is to hinge and not be parallel where the checker can skate in between the D and intercept the pass. Many of the drills show both.

Pass and receive while skating, give a target, fake before shooting, follow the shot for a rebound.Description:

1. Shooters line up at diagonal blue lines.2. A from each line leave and pass to D1 and mirror the D’s passes.3. D1 hinge and pass to D2.4. D2 pass to A.5. A skate in and shoot.6. A circle back and rebound for B the next shooter.7. B leave from the other diagonal blue lines and pass to D2 to D1 to B’s who shoot.

*Options: A could give and go with B. A could defend a 1-1 vs. B. A can screen and tip for B.

1. Start with D in the middle and F in diagonal corners.2. D leave and transition skate forward to backward at the top of the circle.3. First the D skates back with hands behind their back.4. Protect the middle, control speed to keep a tight gap, stay D side.5. Vertical gap about a stick length and horizontal gap line up at the inside of attackers shoulder.6. Forward can also start from the knees.7. Flare back facing the attacker then forward when finishing the check.8. Defenders now keep hands in front and pivot when they chose.9. Finish the play and don’t allow the attacker to score on the rebound.10. Defender progress to using a stick ‘upside down.’11. Forward turn inside the blue line and defender skate to maintain a tight gap.12. When F beats D wide turn to the inside and race to the inside post to cut them off.13. D progress to stick held in the normal position.14. Forwards can now either skate straight or circle in the zone.

Defender maintain a vertical gap of one stick length and a horizontal gap lining up between the outside shoulder and the middle of the body. If beat wide the defender turn inside and race to the near post to cut off the attacker and don’t allow any goals on rebounds. Pivot to the outside by flaring back and skate forward with the belly button facing the attacker.

Description:

1. Attacker start on the goal line and defender on the face-off dot.2. Defender is allowed a maximum of two cross-overs.3. Defender protect the middle by keeping the attacker on the outside shoulder.4. Defender maintain a gap of one stick length.5. Add the attacker circles inside the first blue line and defender mirror.6. Finish by allowing the attacker to either circle or go straight7. Defender deny a rebound by boxing out the attacker and control the stick after a shot.

* Advanced stage is allow no crossovers but start facing the side boards half turn and stride backwards.

* Progressions: Defender start at dot one crossover each way, then move to the bottom of the circle.

*Next start at the dot with no crossovers and progress to the bottom of the circle.